Say it with flowers? Say it with flowers? (February 20, 2004)

Surprise your love with a tussy mussy

By Jill Slater

Flowers are appreciated any day of the year and they often have special meanings when given, received or used as decorating tools in the home or office. But, did you know you can actually give flowers that tell your intentions?

Surprise your loved one with a tussy mussy bouquet. Tussy mussies are small Victorian bouquets that literally give meaning to flowers. The Victorians assigned definitions to each flower variety and its particular color.

For instance, red roses often mean, "I love you." However, roses in general mean, "I'll always remember."

Greenery and herbs have meaning too. Rosemary, for instance, means "commitment and fidelity." Thyme conveys "strength and courage" and camellia leaves say "admiration or perfection" and are considered "a good luck gift to a man."

Tussy mussies are a fun and unique way to express your feelings and a snap to create. The blooms are simply fastened together with a twist of a rubberband. As an added bonus, place a tussy mussy inside a decorative teapot. When the flowers fade, the teapot is a constant reminder of the heartfelt floral gift and you.

Materials:

Small decorative teapot

Floral preservative

Approximately 5 stems of red hybrid tea roses. (Red roses mean "love, or I love you.")

3 stems of white snapdragons. (White snapdragons mean "no deception; gracious lady and presumption.")

Approximately 8 to 10 stems of evergreens. (Pine means "hope," and fir means "time.")

1 rubberband

Floral clippers

Directions:

1. Fill the teapot half to three-quarters full of water that has been treated with flower preservative.

2. Cut the roses, snapdragons and greens to about twice the height of the teapot. Remove the greens from the roses, snapdragons and foliage at the point they will be immersed in water.

3. It's time to begin gathering the roses and greenery in your hands to make the tussy mussy bouquet. (If you are right-handed, hold the flowers and greens in your left hand; vice-versa if you're left-handed.) The first flower gathered will be the center of the tussy mussy. Arrange all the other materials in a round shape around this first flower. The tops of each rose blossom should be at the same height. Now add the snapdragons as a group to the bouquet. The heads of these flowers will rise slightly above the roses and greenery.

4. When all the flowers are gathered, simply tie a rubberband around the tussy mussy. bringing the rubberband up just under the blooms. Recut the stems so that the heads of the flowers rest just over the lip of the teapot.
Tussy mussies for friends and lovers

For a friend:

White, blue or yellow iris -- ("faith, hope, wisdom and valor; my compliments, eloquence")

White alstroemeria ("devotion, friendship")

Mint leaves ("warmth of feeling")

For a lover:

Pink miniature carnations ("I'll never forget you")

White daisy chrysanthemums (Chrysanthemums in general mean "cheerfulness; you're a wonderful friend"; white chrysanthemums mean "truth.")

Rosemary sprigs ("remembrance. commitment; fidelity")

Jill Slater is the Good Gardener for ABC 7 News, San Francisco, and spokesperson for The California Cut Flower Commission.

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